Published: May 18, 2008 12:58 am            

WOLCOTT: Hometown touches hit the spot along canal

These are a few of my favorite things.

During the Mother’s Day Canal Cancer Walk on Sunday, I worked my way against the wave of hundreds of participants on Widewaters trail. That way I didn’t have to keep pace with the walkers, but could have them coming toward me.

I saw all happy faces. They weren’t walking around the canal because they had to do it. These folks were doing what they wanted to do. Some of the kids even tried the physical fitness tests along the way.

The Mother’s Day walk has grown tenfold since it started 12 years ago and raised about $40,000 this year for Mary’s Room. The Lockport walk is the sole supporter of the wig room for the American Cancer Society.

I understand hair is important. More important is the feeling that walkers have and the good will they exude. The walk is for fighters of cancer and a feel-good assignment.

•••

I wish the pope could pop into a Sunday morning Mass at St. Mary's, sit in a crowded pew and feel the good will. If the pontiff did, he would not think twice about closing the church overlooking the Big Bridge. St. Mary’s would stay open.

Catholics have a Sabbath obligation to attend Mass, but St. Mary’s is packed because people want to be there. Parishioners are appealing to the pope to keep the church open and, as far as I know, the lawyer’s paperwork is at the Vatican. Paperwork has not worked in the past, however, in getting bishop’s decision overturned. This requires personal attention.

I’m relatively certain that Bishop Edward Kmiec’s ruling to merge St. Mary’s with three other Lockport churches met the letter of the canon law. However, the spirit of the law would dictate that the church remain open.

Meanwhile, more than 200 Lockportians showed their support for the appeal by going to the spaghetti dinner last Sunday. The pastor can’t use church funds for the lawyer’s fees, but the spaghetti spirit gave a saucy boost.

•••

With the weather getting better each day, I could become a Reid’s regular. The drive-in restaurant across the canal has an army of fans, but they are not lined up for long.

The “Can I help you?” comes quick. Service is right on. The kids remind me of Annette and Spin of the old Disney days, only they’re not so nattily uniformed.

I’m a sucker for the hot fudge sundaes, but I’ve never had two quite the same from Reid’s.

The dollops are not regulated by a corporate bean-counter in a far-away state, but created by the soda jerk-of-the-day who can put his or her own spin on it.

That’s the way I like it.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott

439-9222, ext. 6246.

        

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